Saturday 14 Sep 1844 (p. 3, col. 4) INQUESTS. ----- (Before Mr. LEE, Deputy Coroner.) On Saturday, the 7th instant, at Dykesfield, in the parish of Burgh, on view of the body of John GRAHAM, of Scotch-street, Carlisle, innkeeper, aged 34 years. It appeared that deceased left home on Friday afternoon with the intention of proceeding from Port Carlisle to Liverpool by the steamer the following morning. He reached Drumburgh and remained at the inn there all night. He appeared very restless during the night, and next morning, instead of going forward to the Port, he returned towards Carlisle. Having reached Dykesfield about eight o'clock, he was observed to go into a field adjoining the Canal, where he remained upwards of an hour, and between nine and ten was seen by a child to throw himself into the Canal. The child informed her parents of what she had seen, but they, looking out and imagining it to be two persons bathing, took little further notice. After the lapse of nearly a quarter of an hour, becoming apprehensive at the length of time the parties remained in the water, they went to the place, when they saw deceased floating under the water, and his hat swimming on the surface near him. After an interval of another five minutes the body was got out, but life was quite extinct. Deceased had been observed to be in a very unsettled state of mind for some time prior to his committing the fatal act. Verdict-"temporary insanity." ----- FATAL AND MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. (Before Mr. LUMB, Coroner.) An inquest was held at St. Bees, on Monday last, on view of the body of John DIXON, a sailor, about 18 years of age, who lost his life under the following melancholy circumstances:- Mr. DIXON, the postman between Whitehaven and St. Bees, had brought the bags to Whitehaven for the morning mail, and was returning home with a full-gig, accompanied by his son, (a young man in the prime of life, who was driving at the time), John SMITH, of St. Bees, Isaac FISHER, of St. Bees Toll Bar, and the deceased. The horse which they were driving was one belonging to Mr. FOX, of St. Bees Abbey, and was known to be somewhat vicious; but he had been carefully driven, and had gone so quietly that no danger whatever was apprehended. When the party came to the top of the steep hill leading down to St. Bees Toll Bar, they all got out of the conveyance, and proceeded on foot down the steepest part of the brow. The animal, however, seemed so quiet and tractable that they all got into the conveyance again for the purpose of entering the village in the vehicle and showing the inhabitants how well they could manage the horse, notwithstanding its known vicious propensities. No sooner had the party entered the vehicle however, and the driver got into his seat, than the horse commenced kicking and plunging most furiously, and ultimately set off down the hill at full speed. The party now saw that they were in danger, and that the animal could not be again brought under any subjection, they all therefore determined to quit the conveyance. The elder DIXON was the first who jumped out, and as he alighted on the road without receiving any harm the others were induced to imitate his example, but unfortunately their endeavours to escape the impending danger was less fortunate than those of DIXON. John SMITH next leaped out, but was so severely stunned by the fall that he laid on the road quite insensible for some time. Whilst DIXON was engaged in raising SMITH from the ground and otherwise assisting him, he saw the deceased, and immediately afterwards FISHER, leap out of the conveyance on the left hand side. As soon as DIXON got SMITH brought round he left him, and ran to the assistance of the young sailor, whom he found lying on the road quite dead. Seeing that he could be of no assistance whatever to the deceased, DIXON proceeded on to FISHER, whom he found lying on the road suffering very much, and severely injured. The party were now all out of the vehicle, with the exception of DIXON's son, who was driving, and for whose fate the greatest apprehension was entertained by his father, who at this time lost sight of both his son and the vehicle, in consequence of a curve in the road, but could still hear the animal careering along the way with great fury. Young DIXON, (the driver), however, kept possession of his seat and a tight hold of the reins, under the expectation that he would be able to turn the horse up the steep road leading to Rottington; but he found as he approached the road in question that he had no chance whatever of turning the horse into it, in consequence of the amazing velocity with which the animal proceeded down the hill. Indeed the rapidity of the horse was so great that it could neither make the turn to the toll-bar, nor yet the gate leading into Mr. FOX's farm yard, which it was undoubtedly attempting, but went smack against the gable end of Mr. FOX's house, and was killed on the spot, its brains being dashed out, and its body crushed or driven into a heap of broken bones and mangled flesh. Both the shafts of the gig were driven against the wall and broken, and the body of the vehicle smashed to pieces. The driver, as may be supposed, very narrowly escaped destruction, and as it was he suffered severely, having broken one of his arms, shattered the cup of one of his knees, and was otherwise much injured, though he is not considered in danger. Poor FISHER, of whose recovery there is no hope whatever, is the father of nine children, and who, along with SMITH, is a farm servant in the employ of Mr. FOX, of St. Bees Abbey. Thomas FOX, Esq., late surgeon of Whitehaven, was on the spot, and rendered all the assistance in his power. The unfortunate youth who has lost his life on this occasion had just arrived in Whitehaven from a two years voyage, and was going to St. Bees to visit his parents, whom he had left exactly on the morning of that day two years. It may not be unworthy of mention that the poor youth's father assisted in conveying the lifeless body of his son into his house without being aware of the circumstance until he was told, the youth having sent no word to his parents of his arrival, intending (sailor-like) to give them a joyous surprise. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," with a deodand of 1s. on the gig.